General
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This presentation gives an overview of RAPDASA as a non-profit organization.
RAPDASA presented at the Aeronautical Society of South Africa. A case study was presented by Richard Schulz, director of Adept Airmotive. His topic, “Application of Rapid Prototyping in the development of the ADEPT Airmotive Engine” was very well received
RAPDASA presented at the Aeronautical Society of South Africa. Prof. Deon de Beer, from the Department of Technology Transfer and Innovation at VUT presented his riveting perspective on “The Establishment of a Rapid Prototyping/Additive Manufacturing Capability in SA.”
The Institute for Inventors and Innovators (III) hosted a presentation themed “Rapid Prototyping Technology in South Africa” at Wits University on the 13th of April, 2011. Dr. Willie du Preez, from the CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing presented on behalf of RAPDASA.
The application of computer tomography (CT) scanning, computer aided design (CAD) and rapid/additive manufacturing (RM) has become a widely researched area in the field of medical implants in the last 5 years. This is primarily driven by advancements in RM technologies capable of fabricating in bio-inert materials such as Titanium.
Laser Sintering is well known for insuring the quickest route from product idea to market launch. Innovative companies from a broad range of industries are using this technology today in every stage of the product life cycle for batch size optimised production.
RAPDASA (Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa) was officially launched during the first annual international conference, held in 2000 at the CSIR, following a number of meetings held nationally, to establish a community of practice. RAPDASA embraces the complete product development value chain (starting from idea/concept, to design, prototype development into manufacturing and commercialization). RAPDASA aims to become a government-recognized activity or industry cluster/group, as it currently creates strategic links between academia, science councils and industry. It was started by volunteers, and is still being driven by individuals with a passion for innovative product development.
The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) specializes in Additive Manufacturing (AM). The CRPM was established in 1997 as a centre that does commercial work as well as research. Operating inside the Integrated Product Development Research Niche area, the research focuses on Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Manufacture, Rapid Tooling and Medical Product Development.
Interesting Links
Laser centre wants to light up SA factories 
CSIR, National Laser Centre aims to boost SA’s global competitiveness with services to business, writes Sarah Wild
Vaal University of Technology VUT is located in a highly industrialised area with major petro-chemical, steel, engineering and manufacturing companies. It is also surrounded by communities witih poor economic backgrounds. The university takes seriously its developmental role as a university of technology and has adopted a new vision and mission that underpins its Teaching and Learning, Research and Community Engagement.
Wohlers Associates Inc. Wohlers Associates, Inc. is an independent consulting firm that provides technical and strategic advice on the new developments and trends in rapid product development and additive manufacturing.
Solar sintering In a world increasingly concerned with questions of energy production and raw material shortages, this project explores the potential of desert manufacturing, where energy and material occur in abundance.
In this experiment sunlight and sand are used as raw energy and material to produce glass objects using a 3D printing process, that combines natural energy and material with high-tech production technology.
ASTM ASTM International is a globally recognized leader in the development of standards. ASTM committee F42 was formed in 2009 and is dedicated towards standardization of Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Processes.
GARPA The Global Alliance of Rapid Prototyping Associations (GARPA) was formed to encourage the sharing of information on rapid prototyping and related subjects across international borders. RAPDASA is a proud member of GARPA.
Institute of Inventors and Innovators The Institute for Inventors and Innovators is a non-profit organisation, established to assist inventors to commercialise their products. They provide the inventor with information, linkages and opportunities to make the entire process of concept to commercialization quicker and easier.
